by Olatunji Saliu

ABUJA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's reform and opening-up have offered an insightful example of how Africa can institute political and economic changes on its future development, said a Nigerian expert.

Africa, just like any other continent of the world, has been strongly motivated by China's economic development, said Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, an assistant professor of political science and international relations at the University of Abuja.

"China is a motivation for Africa. The massive infrastructure build-up in Africa by China has brought us at the threshold of growth which will really usher Africa toward development," Ibrahim said in an interview with Xinhua.

During the past four decades, China has witnessed enormous economic and social progress with the implementation of its reform and opening-up policy.

Ibrahim, who has written several books on Sino-Nigerian cooperation, as well as China-Africa development, noted China has grown into the world's second largest economy, with annual per capita disposable income of the people in both urban and rural areas rising more than 100 times during the period.

According to Ibrahim, the policy shifts gradually brought positive changes to China's political and economic system "in such a way that the whole world was wowed."

"With its partnership with China, Africa has hope that it will emerge one day," he told Xinhua.

Africa is also opening up through its partnership with China, especially through the platform of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, Ibrahim said.

"We are having more partnership in different areas which, in the long run, will result in a positive economic change all over Africa," he said, adding "this will produce something meaningful for the African economy."

Ibrahim said that China has continued its reform, noting that the Belt and Road Initiative is a key diplomatic policy and a major new push for reform.

The Belt and Road Initiative would "integrate the global system politically, economically, culturally and socially while it deals with the issues of information, communication and connectivity through land, rail, sea, pipeline and air transportation facilities," he said, adding that the initiative will, with no doubt, make economic activities and trade easier and boost the global economy.

"China's reforms have really impacted the development of China, Africa and the rest of the world," he said.